Texas jury ponders ex-pitcher's police brutality suit

HOUSTON — A jury is to continue deliberating a former Houston Astros pitcher's multimillion-dollar brutality lawsuit against Galveston police officers who beat him in 2008.

Deliberations continue Wednesday in the lawsuit filed by Brandon Backe (BA'-kee), who contends the beating ended his baseball career. The federal jury deliberated several hours Tuesday in Houston before recessing.

Backe seeks up to $15 million in damages for injuries he says left him with limited use his pitching arm. He says he and others were beaten during a wedding party at an outdoor bar. Police contend the allegations are exaggerated and that any force used was justified.

Backe was a key member of an Astros rotation that helped the team to the 2005 World Series, where they lost to the Chicago White Sox.